I just wanted to go fully loaded on my GT. I was paying 100% in full on my car, and I figured o-well, I might as well splurge on it. I always wanted one, and in hindsight I'm not regretting it. I'm pretty handy with a map, but there are times I know it will come in handy for me. Plus, I'm not the only one driving the car. My wife has found it very useful. I like the features of finding a particular business, resturant, or gas station if I'm out on a trip, or even in the city I live. For instance, I wanted Italian food. I inputted the topic food>Italian and it foud all the restaurants. Used it when we were out for a movie. Decided on spur of the moment of eating Italian, and chose a restaurant we never even knew was there. You get the idea.

Yes the Nav is a nice option for those that can afford it. If you like using a standard map, have a good sense of direction, don't care about finding specific addresses on the spur of the moment, and don't travel much, you probably don't need it. But for those that do, I believe the majority of the people that get it, won't be disappointed.

Carliker The navigation system never worked from the day of delivery. I didn't order the car, but took delivery of it from a local dealer (Washington, DC area). A proper pre-delivery inspection (PDI) was not performed. Tires were over inflated to 60 PSI, grease on the black and red leather drivers seat. My assessment is that the local dealer is not getting proper technical support from Mazda or the manufacturer of the navigation system. Other problems: I have noticed that the air conditioner was not pulling its weight during the few days that the car was actually in my driveway and available for me to drive. The car is still in the break in period. I bought my car before 26 Aug 2003 (the cut-off date) but still have not received a buy back letter (horsepower issue) that has been promised for weeks by Mazda North America. Rx8zoomster, I respect your right to have a differing opinion and am glad that you are a satisfied customer, but manufacturer's have a greater responsibility to us as consumers than has been shown towards me so far. Knowledge is power, and I feel compelled to state my situation and dissatisfaction for others who are potential buyers. Mazda gets an "F" for customer support. They could learn a thing or two from Daimler Chrysler.

I sympathize with the problems you've been having, but it seems that it is also an isolated case. All you had to do is call Mazda to get your buyback letter. I know it's frustrating to get someone on the line, but they would even fax one to you. The letter, in fact, isn't even necessary when you call because they just ask you your vehicle ID. If you are one of the people before August 26th, they'd have it on record. Then, they'd send you the info. you need to do the buyback. It may not be too late to do this.

eatonjam...I'd also like to know if there were any other issues with your car other than the NAV system. If that's the only problem, then I'd drive your RX8 until they figure a fix or replace the DVD NAV system. No need for them to keep it for that problem.

I've had mine two months. CEL came on when I had 50 miles on it. They immediately put me in a new (demo) Protege, had a new EVAP unit overnighted to the dealer and had me back in the car the next day.

I am sorry you are having problems. There is one thing that puzzles me. Why, Why did you take deliver on this car with so many problems. I certainly wouldn't. Because of you taking deliver with KNOWING these problems, don't you have to blame yourself also? You should have forced the dealer to do the PDI, and have everything right BEFORE you bought it. Honestly I have to blame you.

But that is past, and now you must move on. Since there is a problem with your NAV, then the dealer must fix it. And I'm sorry that you are having problems with the dealer in that regards. If the NAV is the only problem you have, and you are problem free in other areas, then I agree with graphicguy to keep your car. If your dealer is not providing adequate service on fixing the NAV, you have a few options, take it to another dealer (which you shouldn't have to do), or make some phone calls to Mazda NA corporate and complain about this dealer.

Your problem has to be a very isolated case. I am a member of the RX-8forum, and you seem to have the only NAV problem out of hundreds and hundreds of members. I sincerely hope you get the problem resolved. The car is too good to turn in just because you are having just this problem and you have a P' poor dealership. Mazda dealerships are much better than just this one dealership & and the RX-8 is much better than the isolated problems you are having.

Good luck.

As in regards to your other comment, "They could learn a thing or two from Daimler Chrysler"... I have to laugh at that one, because that's the best joke I heard all week.

I have three problems with my RX8. The oil light goes on the air clicks of and on constantly, and the car makes a clunk when I start off in the morning. It is in the dealer now for two days. Mine is the first oil pan replacement they have done. No fix for the air conditioning compressor yet. Mazda has no info on the clunk sound some of us get in our RX8's. I thought about their offer to return the car and called to get further details. They will not refund certain charges like extended warantees or any option added post delivery. I had some other question of what will be reimbursed. My letter stated I must notify them by October 1 2003 of my decision. Now they are telling me the paperwork has to be completed by October 1. Also I f I am unhappy with the buy back offer( too much excluded fees) the other offer is no longer available. Heck I love this car but we were stupid to be Mazda's Testing grounds. I hoped to return it and repurchase in a few months. I will probably keep the car and dump it before the 48 month warantee is up. I will never buy another Mazda. Its BACk TO NISAN FOR ME

Here's my 2 cents on the clunk many people are hearing on starting out, especially first thing in the morning. Rear brakes. I have found that at times the pads on the rear brake stick slightly and the sound of them breaking away from the rotor makes a loud clunk. I've had other cars do this especially after the brakes had gotten wet for some reason.

Mazda represents everything that is wrong with big business and they bully consumers. Daimler Chrysler once reimbursed me for a brake job I had done months before a brake rotor recall was inacted. Mazda would have done nothing. Their main tactic is to ignore you. My buy back paper work has been mailed. For you information, the grease on the seat was noted, I had no idea the tires were over-inflated, and the dealership handed me the DVD case for the Navi System right before I pulled out of the dealership. The local dealer that worked on my car did not get proper technical assistance from Mazda NA or U.S. Radio, the makers of the Navi System. I give the dealership that tried to fix my car high marks for customer service. The dealership I bought from gets a zero..... One last thing, Mazda does not participate in The Better Business Bureau's Autoline Arbitration Program. Wonder Why???

I feel your frustration. I had to call Mazda and was on hold for about a half an hour or more. If you scroll back around early September posts, you can see that I wasn't too happy about Mazda. The worst thing is that damn zoom zoom music you are forced to listen to while on hold.